The Major League Baseball Thread

A discussion about the trade deadline with charlietheowl in another thread inspired me. Don't know if there ever has been an MLB thread (I know there was a thread for the 2006 season), but I thought it might be good to have.

I'll move our discussion here so as to not spam the other thread too much.

It would be hilarious if Ryan Dempster had two trades fall apart in a week, because that would be the Cubs didn't move their best piece.

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Yeah...it seems that the Cubs and Yankees are now talking, however Dempster has to OK any trade, and he MIGHT consider the Yanks if there's no chance of an LA deal. Funny thing is that Soriano also would love to go to the Dodgers...what is it with them?

The Twins seem to be getting active. Their discussing trading Denard Span to the Reds and Jared Burton with the Rangers. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next 2 hours.

The Twins should be active, since they are terrible, and need as many young players as they can get. I doubt their front office could recognize talent if it slapped them in the face though (trading Liriano for some stuff the White Sox found in their basement). At least Texas has plenty of young talent for them to try and poach.

(PS: One of Texas' top prospects, infielder Mike Olt, went to my high school. I never really knew him, but it's cool that someone who could play in the majors came from my hometown.)

I feel like my eyes are just moving back and forth and back and forth watching the Dempster rumors bounce around. The Dodgers have him...no wait, the Yankees are in serious discussions...no, we were wrong, the Yankee talks weren't that serious...the Dodgers are out...now they're back in...Dempster will accept trade to Yanks, Dodgers or Rangers...now the Rangers are in the background. I wouldn't be half surprised if they mess around and don't even trade him.

Yep...I see that. I'm really excited about that. He was an All Star the past two years, if he can just get back to what he did the last two years he will be a great pickup for the Pirates, if not for this year possibly in the next couple years. Though I am wondering, why is it that he got demoted to AAA? I know he was slumping and I think it may have had something to do with Carlos Lee coming to the Marlins, but I just have a hard time understanding how someone who did so well in his career suddenly gets demoted so quickly.

His slash lines are terrible this year (.205/.250/.306), and that wouldn't be acceptable for a backup shortstop, not to mention a starting first baseman. I don't know why he fell off a cliff like that, perhaps he had a hard time adjusting to the Marlins new stadium or something. But he's essentially like buying a lottery ticket; he works out you have a relatively cheap first baseman for a couple years, if not, it's not like anything much was given up for him.

Well...they did give up the 33rd overall draft pick in next year's draft as part of the deal...which I'm not completely satisfied with. I'm just surprised that the Marlins gave up on Sanchez so quickly to send him to the minors and trade him. He's still relatively young and if he turns things around he could benefit them for years. We also got some Kyle Kaminska guy in the deal, some minor league reliever. I really doubt he'll turn out to be much though.

Now the Reds grabbed Broxton to bolster their bullpen even more. And I guess Soriano is staying put. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the last 15 minutes...some of the best trades have been made right up to the last second in the past.

And the deadline comes and goes. Dempster surprisingly to the Rangers. And it looks like my team and your team were close to trading Chad Qualls for Casey McGehee, we're still waiting for confirmation of whether or not they got it through.

Not sure what to make of the McGehee pickup. I suppose he's all right for a few weeks, but I don't think he's that huge an improvement over Chavez. Figure this means that Sanchez is probably going to start for the Pirates (can Snider play any first?).

The Rangers needed a starter since Lewis went down, Dempster was definitely the best they could do. The AL West should be fun for the rest of the season.

I'm not sure if Snider can play first...but I would imagine that Gaby Sanchez and Garrett Jones are going to be splitting playing time at first. Tonight Snider is starting in right field, I'm imagining that between the Sanchez will spend time at first, Snider spend time in right, and Jones just jump back and forth when needed.

I don't know much about Chad Qualls...it seems like over the past few years he's hasn't been his old self. At least he'll be someone to help out the bullpen now that Brad Lincoln's gone.

I've felt like Statler and Waldorf heckling the Phillies this year
W: Oh! Oh!
S: What's the matter?
W: It's either this team or indigestion. I hope it's indigestion.
S: Why's that?
W: Because indigestion will get better in a while!
Both: Ah-ha-ha-ha!

So apparently Carlos Lee was headed to the Yankees...but Lee wouldn't waive his no trade clause. The Marlins are desperate to get rid of them...I think they may try to trade him through waivers in August.

I cannot think of any reason why the Yankees would want Carlos Lee, since he can barely play first anymore, and they have a bunch of DH type guys (Jones, Ibanez, Chavez when not at third). At least McGehee can play first and third.

I'm not sure who will pick up Lee since he's proven to be so picky about where he wants to play, but I doubt he'd make a big difference anyway.